The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baldwin, Abraham

BALDWIN, Abraham, statesman, was born at Guilford, Conn., Nov. 6, 1754. In 1772 he was graduated from Yale college, and in 1775 was appointed tutor, which position he held until 1779. In 1777 he was made chaplain in the army, serving throughout the remainder of the war in this capacity. In 1784, through the influence of General Greene, he removed to Savannah, Ga., where he was admitted to the bar and was elected to the state legislature. He founded the University of Georgia, secured for it a grant of 40,000 acres of land, drew up the charter, and was its president for a number of years. In 1787 he was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1788. From 1789 to 1792 served as a representative in the United States Congress, in 1799 was elected to the senate, and re-elected in 1805, retaining his seat until the time of his death, and serving as president pro tempore 1801 and 1802. He educated and supported his six fatherless half-brothers and sisters, and assisted several poor young men to obtain an education. He died in Washington, D. C., March 4, 1807.